Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 15, 2025: With this update, we added the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K as our latest Best Mainstream CPU (Intel), replacing the Intel Core Ultra 5 265K. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we reviewed and evaluated one new processor for potential inclusion in this roundup and our other processor roundups. We currently have three budget CPUs, from AMD and Intel, in PC Labs for evaluation.
- Most affordable Ryzen 7000 chip to date
- Includes stock cooler in the box
- High-efficiency operation
- Close to same street price as higher-binned 7600X
- Bundled Wraith cooler is a step down from the one with the 7700 and 7900
- Beat in testing by lower-priced Core i5
AMD’s Ryzen 5 7600 is arguably the best-value mainstream processor that the chip maker currently sells, with impressive performance for its appealing price. This chip has six CPU cores with thread-doubling SMT support, and it can hit speeds of up to 5.1GHz. The processor is also equipped with a low-end integrated graphics processor (IGP) that isn’t up to running games but works fine for any non-gaming display task.
It’s also notable that AMD ships this model with a Wraith Stealth cooler. This cooler is basic but does save you from having to purchase one for everyday use.
Home PC shoppers: This Ryzen processor is still a smart choice for a general-purpose AMD PC. It generates moderate CPU performance for a reasonably low cost and should feel snappy for many common applications, including web browsers, text editors, or video players. This is a fine chip for baseline family PCs.
1080p PC gamers: This is a good AMD processor option for playing PC games at 1080p, paired with an able graphics card. While far from the fastest option, the Ryzen 5 7600 is a serviceable chip for an entry-level gaming PC focused on 1080p play; it may start to bottleneck the graphics card at sharper resolutions. Still, it can keep up with midrange graphics cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 or the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT.
Core Count
6
Thread Count
12
Base Clock Frequency
3.8 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.1 GHz
Socket Compatibility
AMD AM5
Lithography
5 nm
L3 Cache Amount
32 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
65 watts
Integrated Graphics
AMD Radeon Graphics
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
2200 MHz
Bundled Cooler
AMD Wraith Stealth
Learn More
AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Review
- Potent raw CPU performance
- Speedy integrated graphics
- Competitively priced
- Improved thermal performance versus Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen (“Raptor Lake” and “Raptor Lake Refresh”) processors
- Trails competitors in gaming with a traditional GPU
The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor line, headed by the Core Ultra 7 265K, is a jack-of-all-trades. Targeted at the center of the CPU market, it is easy to recommend this processor for just about any task, including gaming, multitasking on work projects, or content creation work. Its gaming performance isn’t a strong spot, but the chip is among the best in the “Arrow Lake” family, and its performance in other tasks is exceptional for its price, almost as potent as the Core Ultra 9 285K for a significantly lower cost.
Home PC shoppers: This is the best-fit Intel processor for the average home family computer. The Core Ultra 7 265K could be viewed as a high-end option for a family computer, but it’s competitively priced. Its dense core count makes it excellent at multitasking, something that every PC user wants their machine to do well.
Office workers: This is an ideal processor for Intel-based desktops used for work. If you are building a new PC or upgrading one for work, the Core Ultra 7 265K is a sensible option. The chip’s high core count helps with multitasking but also brings big boosts to content creation work. Its performance relative to its cost is also arguably among the best in the industry right now.
Midrange PC gamers: This Intel processor is well-suited for midrange-to-enthusiast PC gaming. Its gaming performance isn’t top-shelf, but it’s no slouch and ahead of some lower-end and last-generation competitors, making it a serviceable option in a gaming PC. While a comparable AMD chip may serve you better, this CPU will handle most modern PC games just fine.
Core Count
20
Thread Count
20
Base Clock Frequency
3.9 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.5 GHz
Socket Compatibility
Intel LGA1851
Lithography
3 nm
L3 Cache Amount
30 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
250 watts
Integrated Graphics
Intel Xe LPG
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
300 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Review
- Strong performance
- Better value than Ryzen 7 5800X
- Compatible with most AM4 motherboards
- 65-watt TDP
- Falls behind the more affordable Core i5-12600K
Yes, technically, the AM4 platform is old hat now, but it still has life in it for budget shoppers. The Ryzen 7 5700X was introduced toward the end of the AM4 platform’s life as AMD’s flagship mainstream processor, and it launched with a price that undercut many existing Ryzen 7 5000-series chips. Despite its lower price, this eight-core CPU drives similar speeds to most other Ryzen 7 5000-series processors. The lower price without any appreciable change in performance made it an alluring option at launch, and this still holds today, especially as its price has dropped further.
Existing AM4 motherboard owners: This is a fine budget processor for anyone who already owns an AM4 motherboard. The Ryzen 7 5700X makes for an excellent upgrade option to speed up your PC without the need to build anew. It’s faster than any Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 chip available on the AM4 platform, and it’s one of the fastest AM4 Ryzen 7 CPUs, making it one of the best options for the platform. It’s also quite affordable these days.
Home PC shoppers: This affordable processor is a good choice for general-use, mainstream family PCs. While building an all-new PC around AMD’s aging AM4 platform isn’t recommended, the Ryzen 7 5700X would serve budget-strapped families well. Although this chip is a few years old, you won’t notice the 5700X slowing down while running web browsers and text editors, for instance.
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
Base Clock Frequency
3.4 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
3.6 GHz
Socket Compatibility
AMD AM4
Lithography
7 nm
L3 Cache Amount
32 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
65 watts
Integrated Graphics
None
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X Review
- Powerful performance in its class
- Capable integrated graphics
- Runs hot
- No meaningful change from Core i5-13600K in bench tests
The Intel Core i5-14600K has seen a price drop following the release of Intel’s “Arrow Lake” processor line, but it remains a powerful and versatile processor. It isn’t plagued by the same gaming-performance issues as Arrow Lake and is intensely competitive against many AMD CPUs in gaming workloads. This chip also has a capable integrated graphics processor (IGP), and it comes well-priced today.
Budget-bound gamers: This processor is an excellent option for an Intel-based entry-level gaming PC. Its relatively high clock speed, accompanied by a relatively dense core count, enables it to run games with ease at reasonable resolutions. It’s a minor upgrade over the outgoing Core i5-13600K, but it has become easier to recommend after several permanent price cuts. With this much time away from its initial release, the Core i5-14600K becomes a no-brainer for Intel-based basic gaming systems.
Owners of LGA 1700 motherboards: This chip could be a good bargain if you’re already rocking an LGA 1700 mainboard with a low-end or mainstream 12th Gen CPU.
Core Count
14
Thread Count
20
Base Clock Frequency
3.5 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.3 GHz
Socket Compatibility
Intel LGA 1700
Lithography
7 nm
L3 Cache Amount
24 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
181 watts
Integrated Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
1550 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
Intel Core i5-14600K Review
- 16-core design
- Runs significantly cooler than its 7950X predecessor
- Marked performance gains
- Cheaper than last-generation flagship
- Power-hungry
- At launch, a little pricier than the Core i9-14900K
If you want to build a PC around an AMD processor capable of the best possible performance that AMD has to offer, regardless of the cost, then the Ryzen 9 9950X is the right option for you. At the moment, it is unquestionably AMD’s fastest consumer-oriented processor, packing 16 CPU cores, 32 threads, and a blistering-fast 5.7GHz clock speed. Based on the Zen 5 microarchitecture, the Ryzen 9 9950X succeeds in completing more work each clock cycle than its predecessor, giving it better performance in most tasks even while running at the same clock speed.
High-end gamers: This processor is an excellent option for a high-end gaming PC. Although the Ryzen 9 9950X doesn’t feature AMD’s 3D V-Cache, it remains one of the fastest processors on the market. Unsurprisingly, this translates to some of the best gaming performance ever seen from a CPU. If you’re building or upgrading an AMD-based gaming rig for high-refresh or 4K gaming, start here.
Content creators: This is also an ideal AMD processor for content creation tasks. With 16 CPU cores, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a true workhorse for media and other digital asset manipulation. It excels at demanding tasks such as compiling software, heavy multitasking, and content creation work, like rendering videos and editing images.
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Base Clock Frequency
4.3 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.7 GHz
Socket Compatibility
AMD AM5
Lithography
4 nm
L3 Cache Amount
64 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
170 watts
Integrated Graphics
AMD Radeon Graphics
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
2200 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Review
- Major performance increase in some tests
- Reduced power consumption
- Improved integrated graphics
- Dedicated AI silicon
- Worthwhile platform enhancements
- CPU-centric tests are a mix of wins and losses
- Subpar gaming performance in some titles
One of Intel’s fastest processors to date, the Core Ultra 9 285K has eight high-performance P-cores and 16 efficient E-cores with boosted performance over the previous generation. Intel dropped Hyper-Threading support for the Ultra 9 285K, but its large core count and architectural improvements enable this flagship chip to beat out the old Core i9-14900K even though it is clocked lower with a max turbo speed of 5.7GHz. The Ultra 9 285K is also less power-hungry than its predecessor, and it runs cooler, improving several areas beyond just performance. Finally, this chip has a reasonable price relative to its performance.
Content creators: This is a fitting processor for Intel-based content creation stations. Anyone who wants the best performance possible from a desktop PC for non-gaming tasks should consider buying an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. While this processor is certainly capable of gaming, too, it falls behind its AMD competition in this area. With all other tasks, however, the Ultra 9 285K performs exceptionally well, showing top-tier content creation performance driven by its dense core count.
Core Count
24
Thread Count
24
Base Clock Frequency
3.7 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.7 GHz
Socket Compatibility
Intel LGA1851
Lithography
3 nm
L3 Cache Amount
36 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
250 watts
Integrated Graphics
Intel Xe LPG
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
2000 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Review
- Potent CPU performance
- Impressive gaming performance
- Reasonably priced
- 128MB L3 cache
- Biggest gains are in niche scenarios
- Not much faster than 9950X in CPU workloads
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D is AMD’s top consumer-oriented processor with the best performance it has to deliver in the category. Its 16 high-performance CPU cores support SMT technology and run at up to 5.7GHz. This speed enables it to run applications exceptionally fast, with few able to match it. This chip also uses AMD’s second-generation 3D V-Cache technology (thus the “X3D”), which boosts it for PC gaming for not much more cash than the standard Ryzen 9 9950X. The only aspect of this chip that isn’t cutting-edge is its integrated graphics portion, which can serve in a pinch if you lack a graphics card. (Given what this chip is for, though, most buyers aren’t likely to use the integrated graphics at all.)
Top-end PC gamers: This is the best processor for gaming that you can currently buy, AMD or otherwise. However, you must use a top-end graphics card, such as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, to derive the most benefit from the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. You can still benefit with lesser graphics cards, but that depends on how fast the card is and the kind of games you play. Regardless, this is the best gaming CPU that money can buy.
Demanding content creators: This is a smart processor choice for high-level content creation work in an AMD system. If you do a lot of content creation work, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will work well for you. Its large core count and fast clock speed make it excellent at running highly demanding applications, and the extra cache can sometimes provide a small performance boost to content production workloads as well.
Core Count
16
Thread Count
32
Base Clock Frequency
4.3 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.7 GHz
Socket Compatibility
AMD AM5
Lithography
4 nm
L3 Cache Amount
128 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
170 watts
Integrated Graphics
AMD Radeon Graphics
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
2200 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review
- Excellent performance
- Four more E-cores than predecessor
- Increased cache
- No price increase
- Power hungry
- Overheats with 240mm water cooler
Intel’s Core i7-14700K is one of the best overall processors that money can buy, with excellent performance in all areas. The i7-14700K delivers notable improvements over the Core i7-13700K, with four additional E-cores, raising the total core count to 20. The processor also has slightly elevated clock speeds compared with its predecessor, giving it a slight edge in single-threaded tests. The price isn’t half-bad either, undercutting the more costly Intel Core i9 options and AMD’s Ryzen 9 competition while providing almost the same level of performance as these higher-end chips in most situations. This processor’s gaming performance is also exceptional, rivaling the Intel Core i9-13900K in many titles.
Top-end Intel-loyal PC gamers: This processor is the best choice for an Intel-loyal gaming PC. It can keep pace with most graphics cards on the market today without bottlenecking, and it’s still potent enough to run the most demanding games.
High-level content creators: This processor is also a fit for content creation tasks of all intensities. In non-gaming tasks, the Core i7-14700K presents a substantial performance advantage, making it a superior choice if you plan to use your PC for more than just gaming. This chip is especially handy for recording gameplay, streaming while gaming, or performing any other content-related tasks involving rendering or encoding.
Core Count
20
Thread Count
28
Base Clock Frequency
3.4 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.5 GHz
Socket Compatibility
Intel LGA 1700
Lithography
7 nm
L3 Cache Amount
33 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
254 watts
Integrated Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 770
Integrated Graphics Base Clock
1600 MHz
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
Intel Core i7-14700K Review
- Exceptional multithreaded performance
- 64 cores
- Support for 128 threads
- Increased clock speeds over previous Threadripper 7000-series flagship
- Power-hungry (like all Threadrippers)
- Price places it firmly in the professional class
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is close to the fastest processor that money can currently buy, without entering true server-grade hardware. (The top dog is AMD’s own 96-core Threadripper Pro 9995WX.) The 9980X comes loaded with 64 CPU cores and operates up to 128 threads simultaneously while maintaining relatively high clock speeds. This arrangement enables exceptional performance in multi-threaded workloads, while performance in less heavily-threaded tasks is competitive with other consumer CPUs.
Content creators at the highest levels: This specialized processor is ideal for content creators, programmers, and other professionals in the most computationally demanding fields of work. The Ryzen Threadripper 9980X is best suited for extreme multitasking on multiple demanding applications, with applications that can scale with as many cores as you can make available to them. Like all Threadrippers, its true potential is realized in heavily threaded programs, such as Photoshop and other content-creation tools.
Professional users and data scientists: Computer-assisted design work, scientific analysis and modeling, and advanced research and development applications are Threadripper’s sweet spots. This is the best processor if you need to perform work of this nature and lack access to something even more powerful, such as a university or business server, to do the work for you.
Core Count
64
Thread Count
128
Base Clock Frequency
3.2 GHz
Maximum Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
Socket Compatibility
AMD sTR5
Lithography
4 nm
L3 Cache Amount
256 MB
Thermal Design Power (TDP) Rating
350 watts
Integrated Graphics
None
Bundled Cooler
None
Learn More
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X Review
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The Best CPUs for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best CPUs for 2025
CPU Consideration No. 1: Goals and Upgrades
It’s important to set a goal for what you want to achieve with a change of desktop CPUs. Do you want better performance, or are you specifically looking for gaming performance? Is it for a system you will use for day-to-day work? Or do you simply have an older computer sitting around that you’d like to spruce up for internet use and watching videos?
We can’t stress enough the importance of knowing what you want out of your system, to make sure you don’t end up with a disappointing amount of horsepower in the end, whether that’s due to overspending or underspending. This will also help you determine whether you want to upgrade your PC or build a new one.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
First, we should be clear that upgrading is often a viable option, especially if you only need the system for light-duty use, such as web browsing. Technically, even antique PCs based on AMD’s Phenom, Phenom II, and FX series are still suitable for this task, as are Intel’s Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad systems, but these relics would certainly show a good deal of slowdown if you pushed them very hard. These aforementioned chips certainly aren’t worth upgrading or purchasing now—far better options are available for the money.
If your computer is relatively modern, though, it might be better for you to upgrade your current PC instead of buying a new one. This makes your choice of processor far simpler, as there will be a limited number of chips that will work with your current system. Upgrading isn’t always an option, as you might already have the best CPU that your current motherboard supports. But as long as that’s not the case, upgrading can be the most affordable way to end up with a faster PC, as you won’t need to purchase other components.
As to whether it’s worthwhile to upgrade your system, a good rule of thumb is to consider the age of the system you’re using. If that system was made within the last 10 years and doesn’t already have the fastest CPU available for it (or one close to it), upgrading may provide the performance boost you desire. Nothing older than this is remotely worth upgrading, as it becomes more practical to save for a newer system instead. Even with a system that’s around 10 years old, it’s only worth considering if you have something like an old Intel Core i3 or worse, and you are upgrading to an old Core i7—but this is also only worth considering if you can find that latter processor for a low price.
A quick search shows that for older PCs based on Intel’s LGA 1155 socket, which was the platform used by Intel’s second- and third-gen Core “Sandy Bridge” and “Ivy Bridge” processors (now more than a decade old), you can buy second-hand Core i7-3770 processors for around $30 to $50 from take-your-chances sources like eBay. This processor today would lag behind a modern Core i3, but it would still be capable of web browsing or even use in a low-end gaming PC. Again, we must stress, however, that this sort of upgrade only makes sense if you have one of the slowest CPUs available for that old platform and are upgrading to one of the fastest ones. If you had a Sandy Bridge Core i5, it would make more sense to save for a new system instead of upgrading, since the ceiling for the best chip available on that platform isn’t much higher.
Upgrading more recent systems also follows this same logic, i.e., it only makes sense to upgrade if you are making a substantial jump on the same platform—and you can do so cheaply. Even on an almost new system, we would hesitate to upgrade from, say, an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X to an AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, or from an Intel Core Ultra 5 245K to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. It’s not that you wouldn’t see a noticeable and measurable performance boost (our reviews show that there would be one), but the gains you receive for the cost of upgrading often don’t make it worthwhile. This makes it exceedingly important that you buy the right processor from the start, rather than waiting and trying to upgrade later.
If your goal is to simply fix up your old PC for web browsing or low-end gaming, then you may want to stop reading here and see if an affordable upgrade option is available for your system. Each motherboard, including the one in your PC, has a list of supported processors that you can find on the manufacturer’s product page. If none of the processors supported on your current motherboard is affordably priced or a significant step up, then just forget about upgrading and start thinking about building or buying a new system instead. If your goal is instead to get a faster system for work or high-end gaming, or if upgrading just won’t suffice, then keep reading.
System Planning 101: How to Pick a Motherboard, a CPU, and RAM That Work Together
If you’re going to build a new system, then you’ll need to pick mostly new parts. If you had an older system, you might be able to re-use a few items, notably the power supply, case, or storage device, but everything else you’ll likely have to buy. Some parts, such as those we just listed, can be reused, are compatible with a wide range of systems, and can last for several generations. However, motherboards, CPUs, and main system memory (RAM) are not.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
These items will likely last only a few generations. All motherboards have a socket designed for the CPU to be mounted in, and at the chip maker’s level, that socket’s design must be updated periodically to accommodate the addition of new features. As a result, motherboards only support CPUs that will fit in (and are explicitly compatible with) their sockets, and the same is true vice versa for CPUs. (Sometimes a chip will physically fit, but it isn’t supported.) RAM, similarly, has a custom set of slots that it mounts on a PC motherboard, and these slots only support one broad type of RAM and won’t work with any others. (The latest types are known as DDR4 and DDR5.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Due to sockets and, thus, motherboard platforms changing every few years, you will typically need to buy a new motherboard and, possibly, a new set of RAM if you want to buy a new CPU that succeeds your current one by more than a few years. The only time this won’t be the case is if you are upgrading on the same platform, like in the possible scenarios discussed above. If you upgrade frequently, your old RAM might remain compatible with your new system.
In that vein, when purchasing parts, ensure that the parts you select are compatible with each other. CPU sockets are typically numbered; for mainstream CPUs purchased by most consumers, the latest are AMD’s AM4 and AM5, and Intel’s LGA 1700 and LGA 1851. Both motherboards and processors will be identified by this number, making it easy to pick a matching pair. Still, you’ll want to ensure that a given CPU is explicitly supported by a specific board; verify compatibility on the board manufacturer’s website.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For several years, RAM has also followed a simple numbering scheme as we’ve progressed from DDR to DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, and now to DDR5. None of these will work in RAM slots made for the other, and this is also detailed on the motherboard specs page, which again makes finding a matching compatible part relatively easy.
Power, Now! Don’t Build With Plans of Upgrading
Often, people consider building a PC with plans to upgrade it in the future. The idea is that if you get a motherboard and CPU now and can later upgrade to a faster CPU, this might help you avoid having to build another computer and save costs down the road the next time you feel your PC slowing down.
The problem with this train of thought? It rarely works out as planned. Over the last decade, Intel has changed to a new CPU socket every two or three years, typically once every two CPU generations. AMD postpones changing sockets longer, and it only recently introduced its AM5-socketed motherboards as a successor to its AM4 motherboards. AM4 was first launched in 2017, giving it a five-year reign during which time AMD pushed out four primary generations of processors for the platform. We don’t know how long AM5 will be AMD’s main platform at this time, but there’s good reason to believe it will be used for roughly the same period as AM4 was.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Even with AMD’s extended platform lifespan, you are unlikely to upgrade processors on the same motherboard. Compatibility remains a question mark even with AM4, as not all processors made for the platform are supported on all motherboards. AMD made efforts, especially toward the end of AM4’s reign of dominance, to encourage board manufacturers to release updated BIOS versions for older motherboards, thereby extending support for their newest AM4 CPUs to older models. But this effort still relied on AMD’s board partners to implement the new BIOS versions on dozens or even hundreds of boards.
Long story short: You cannot buy a motherboard today and be absolutely confident it will support processors released a few years down the road, even if they are released for the same socket as the motherboard you are buying today.
Even if you can upgrade the CPU on an existing board, strong reasons may arise why you might not want to. Newer motherboards with updated chipsets have their inherent benefits. These might include features such as support for faster RAM, faster USB and storage connections, faster PCI Express slots and underlying buses, enhanced internet support, and numerous other potential benefits. Plus, after you upgrade, you’ll be left with an orphaned CPU to then resell or put into a new motherboard. It starts to make a lot more sense to consider selling (or giving away) your old PC or CPU/motherboard combo and building a new one, most of the time, when you need something faster.
If you are buying into an Intel platform, this is doubly true. Unless you buy a low-end CPU, to begin with, you aren’t likely to want to upgrade in just one or two years before Intel introduces a whole new platform. Though there is some merit in the idea of doing just that (buying a low-end CPU to upgrade next year when high-end prices drop), it still raises overall costs, as you now have a low-end CPU you paid for in addition to a high-end CPU. You’d be better off just buying that high-end CPU to begin with and enjoying it that much longer.
All in all, though some may view platforms that are aging out or about to be replaced as dead ends, it’s best to view all platforms in this same frame of mind. That’s not to say that none of them is worth buying (that’s not true), but upgradability shouldn’t be your top priority when selecting a motherboard and CPU for your new PC. Some components can be easily upgraded later, such as RAM, storage, or the graphics card, but this is not an advantage that motherboards or processors have.
When you do buy a system, unless you are getting an exceptional deal, you should still buy into the newest platform available with the best processor you can afford that fits your needs. Currently, Intel’s newest platform is the LGA 1700 platform, and AMD’s (as mentioned above) is AM5. There’s no harm in getting an AM4 system or a last-gen Intel LGA 1200 system, but, unless you’re getting those steeply discounted from their launch prices, you’re going to get a better system and more bang for your buck by going with what’s newest.
Buying Basics: Four Key Concepts to Know About CPUs
Now that we’ve covered the basic considerations of whether to upgrade or buy new and the other hardware you’ll need to consider when buying a CPU, let’s talk about what differentiates one processor from another. A multitude of factors need to be considered here, but the most important ones are the microarchitecture, core count, thread count, and clock speed.
Microarchitecture
This is by far the most important aspect of any CPU, and indeed the same is true for just about any piece of technology. It’s the design and internal blueprints of how the device is built and what makes it work.
Due to differences in architecture, you can have multiple CPUs that operate at the same speed but still perform drastically differently. It might be helpful for you to picture each architecture in a similar vein as you might consider different makes of cars or airplanes. In the same way that you can have multiple cars with their engines running at 2,000rpm and get drastically different performance and speeds out of the cars, the same is true for CPUs.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Judging architectures is exceedingly difficult, as they are incredibly complex, with billions of transistors and numerous other external factors that impact their performance. To gain an idea of how different architectures perform, you should read our reviews that touch on the subject and also compare processors utilizing different architectures against each other.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
An important detail about microarchitectures that you should know, and that is easy to understand, is how to identify products based on different architectures. This is surprisingly easy if you learn the numbering systems used by AMD and Intel.
If we take AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X as an example, for desktop chips the numbers break down like this…
-
9 = Generational number. AMD’s microarchitectures of recent years are named “Zen,” followed by a number. All modern AMD desktop processors that start with a “9” utilize the Zen 5 microarchitecture, and all processors that start with a “7” utilize the Zen 4 microarchitecture. All modern AMD processors that start with a “5” utilize the Zen 3 microarchitecture. AMD has no desktop processors that begin with a “6”; these were mobile only. There were a few desktop Ryzen CPUs that begin with an “8”, and these also run the Zen 4 microarchitecture.
-
9 = Product tier. AMD makes Ryzen 3, 5, 7, and 9 processors, with this numeral included after “Ryzen” in the product name and as the second digit in the product number.
-
5 = Sub-product tier placement.
-
0 = Sub-product tier placement. Rarely used.
-
X = “Extreme” or higher-end variant of a processor. An AMD chip may or may not have a non-“X” variant.
(Note that AMD is moving to a wholly different processor numbering scheme for its very latest mobile CPUs. See the details here; the guidelines above will not apply to them.)
Traditionally, Intel used a similar coding scheme for its desktop processors that’s still partly in use. Let’s take an Intel high-end CPU, the Core i9-14900K, as an example…
-
14 = Generational number. Number “14” is assigned to Intel’s 14th Gen “Raptor Lake Refresh” processors. 13 = 13th Gen “Raptor Lake.” 12 = 12th Gen “Alder Lake.” 11 = 11th Gen “Rocket Lake.” 10 = 10th Gen “Comet Lake.”
-
9 = Product tier. Intel makes Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 processors, which are included after the “Core” in the product name and as the third digit in the product number (or the second digit, in processors older than 10th Gen).
-
0 = Sub-product tier placement.
-
Second 0 = Sub-product tier placement.
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K = Indicates a higher-end variant of a processor with overclocking support. Several other “suffix” letters are used by Intel to indicate other differences, but the most common ones you will encounter are “K” (indicating overclockability), “F” (indicating that the CPU has no integrated graphics processor), and “KF” (indicating both aspects).
With Intel’s new “Arrow Lake” desktop processors, Intel has adopted a new naming scheme that diverges somewhat from previous generations, but it remains similar. The Core i9, i7, and i5 of previous generations have been replaced by the Core Ultra 9, Core Ultra 7, and Core Ultra 5 families, respectively. The numbering scheme after these new names has been reduced to three digits, plus optional letter suffixes, which remain largely unchanged from previous generations. Here’s an example of how the new naming scheme works, using the flagship Core Ultra 9 285K chip as an example.
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2 = Generational number. The number “2” is assigned to Intel’s Arrow Lake processors. No desktop chips were assigned the number “1,” and no additional desktop chips have used this naming sequence yet.
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8 = Relative performance differentiator. A higher number here general suggests higher performance in relation to other processors in the same product line. All Ultra 9 CPUs have an “8” here, while all Ultra 7 processors have a “6” here. Ultra 5 CPUs can have a “4,” “3” or “2” in this position. This number is not an absolute, however, as ultra-efficiency models like the Ultra 9 285T could potentially be outpaced by chips like the Ultra 7 265K that support higher power ratings.
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5 = This digit currently holds little meaning; all Arrow Lake desktop processors so far have a “5” as the third digit. We’ll see if that changes down the line.
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K = Indicates a higher-end variant of a processor with overclocking support. Several other “suffix” letters are used by Intel to indicate other differences, but the most common ones you will encounter are “K” (indicating overclockability), “F” (indicating no integrated graphics processor), and “KF” (indicating both aspects). Finally, the “T” suffix is used for desktop processors that are optimized for power efficiency and lower heat output. Some Arrow Lake desktop chips will have no letter at all at the end, terminating just in the “5.”
Using these numbers, you can compare processors of the same generation within a vendor’s own line in terms of relative performance with some accuracy. It’s always best to check reviews when possible and compare other details about the processor to more accurately compare CPUs.
Core Count
Inside all mainstream desktop processors today are multiple CPU cores. In the past, processors had only one CPU core, but as technology has improved, more cores have been integrated into processor silicon to increase performance. Each CPU core operates as a semi-independent component inside the processor and is capable of completing tasks.
The advantage of having more CPU cores is that you can complete more work simultaneously. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think of the CPU cores as workers and the processor as the building in which they work.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Traditionally, all of these CPU cores would have been identical; however, this changed with Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake processors. Intel now employs two different types of CPU cores inside most of its desktop processors. Processors based on this design have what Intel calls “P-cores,” which are built on a high-performance microarchitecture. Alongside the “P-cores,” Intel also adds “E-cores,” which utilize a different microarchitecture that enables these cores to be physically smaller and more energy-efficient.
If we return to our comparison of CPU cores to employees, you could think of Intel’s P-cores as higher-level workers with larger offices who can complete more work due to their more extensive experience and larger workspaces. At the same time, the E-cores could be thought of as lower-level workers with smaller offices to work in and lesser skill sets. They may get less done in a given period of time, but you can cram more of them in for the money, and they take up less space.
Though the E-cores are slower, they still significantly improve the processor’s performance. AMD has not yet adopted a similar scheme, which means all the cores in an AMD processor are identical.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
Core count significantly contributes to a processor’s overall performance, but it alone does not determine whether one processor is faster than another. It’s entirely possible for a quad-core processor to be faster than an octa-core processor, and vice versa.
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Multithreading
Work that needs to be performed on the CPU cores comes into the processor in a somewhat chaotic fashion. Some processors take the work orders as they come in and simply proceed to work on them in the order they were received. Processors that implement this design use what is known as an In-Order execution design. This has been shown to hamper a processor’s overall performance.
Each work order sent to the processor requires instruction information and raw data to complete the work. When an In-Order CPU core begins working on a task, it must have both of these; otherwise, it will sit and wait while the necessary instruction information or data is fetched.
Processors that implement an “Out-of-Order” or “OoO” execution design largely circumvent this issue by reordering tasks as they arrive. They can place work orders that have everything they need to run ahead of work orders that don’t. Inevitably, some work orders still reach the CPU cores without all the necessary data, and this still leads to a stall while the required data is fetched.
That is, unless a processor implements simultaneous multithreading (SMT). Essentially, this technology opens up a second line for work orders to be processed by the CPU. The processor isn’t able to work on two work orders at once, so when everything is running smoothly, the processor continues to run through work orders from each line in order, back and forth. When a stall occurs, however, SMT technology enables the processor to set the stalled work order aside and work on items in the other line until the required data is fetched.
This technology significantly reduces processor stalls and drastically improves performance. Processors that implement SMT will appear to have two threads for each CPU core that supports it. This is why an AMD processor with eight cores and SMT technology will be touted as a 16-thread processor. The same is true for Intel processors, with the most notable difference being that Intel refers to SMT as “Hyper-Threading” on its processors.
Just like with core count, thread count doesn’t tell you enough to determine which processor is best, but it can give you an idea as to which processor is better in a given line. A processor with more threads may have a performance advantage over one with fewer threads, particularly in applications that can utilize the technology effectively. However, as we mentioned with the core count, all these factors need to be taken into consideration to know for sure.
Clock Speed
The last and most easily understood key defining characteristic of a processor is its clock speed. This directly relates to a processor’s overall speed and is measured in hertz. Processors today are so fast that this is typically reported in gigahertz (GHz).
(Credit: AMD)
A processor’s clock speed is sometimes reported as the total number of operations it can perform per second. For example, a one-gigahertz processor can theoretically perform 1,000,000,000 operations each second. Modern CPUs operate at multiple GHz with some, like Intel’s Core i9-14900K, peaking at 6.0GHz.
In truth, this description is inaccurate, as some operations require multiple clock cycles (multiple hertz) to complete, and this is where architecture comes in, coming full circle. When comparing processors that are part of the same generation and product line, it’s safe to think the one with the most cores and the highest clock speed will perform the best. Comparing across different architectures and product lines, however, this is not always the case.
On modern processors, you’ll often see a base clock listed, as well as a “Boost Clock” or “Turbo Clock.” You can essentially ignore the base clock listing if you see either of these other clocks listed. A base clock is a processor’s true baseline speed, but modern CPUs are designed to increase their clock speed to a point, as long as the right conditions are met; those conditions are based on thermal and power-draw limitations.
Modern processors run at these elevated clock speeds most of the time when under a heavy load, which is why these boosted numbers are far more important for determining performance than the base clock. It is also possible to increase the peak clock speed yourself on some processors by what is called overclocking, but that’s for another guide.
To overclock, you’ll need a lot more specific information on the topic, beyond the scope of this article. You’ll also need special hardware for overclocking (an appropriate motherboard and robust CPU cooling). We highlight which processors can overclock in our reviews, and when discussing specific products on this page, so you know which to choose if you want to try your hand at overclocking. However, be sure to conduct thorough research on the topic first, as overclocking can be hazardous to your components.
How to Buy the Right CPU: Final Buying Advice
Consider your computing needs carefully and select a processor that suits them. If you have extra cash to spare and want to be extra safe, buy one a little better than your target chip.
One thing we would recommend against is buying the most expensive processor that money can buy or that you can afford without careful consideration. Yes, more-expensive processors are typically better, in general—AMD and Intel charge more for them for a reason—but that doesn’t mean you need that level of performance.
No matter how performant a processor you buy, you will eventually want to upgrade to something newer and faster. Though you may be able to prolong the life of your PC by buying a newer and faster CPU, it might make better sense to opt for upgrading more frequently.
The rate at which technology has been improving makes it likely that, in five years or so, you’ll be able to buy a midrange processor that will be just as fast—if not faster than—today’s very fastest processors. If you buy or build a new midrange PC every five years or so, you’ll likely have a faster computer than someone who is still running a five-year-old PC with a high-end processor.
Upgrading more frequently may not be financially beneficial in the long term, as it involves a definite cost and a set of diminishing returns; however, it does provide the improvements that come with changing platforms. As PC components eventually fail, it can also help to avoid unexpected downtime from old parts breaking. For further guidance, check our processor reviews for more details on each CPU.
